Which Wich to open its first sandwich shop across from City Hall

Published: Wednesday, December 5, 2012 at 3:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at 11:03 p.m.

TUSCALOOSA | Which Wich Superior Sandwiches will open the first of two new sandwich shops in Tuscaloosa next month.

The new restaurant, which boasts more than 50 varieties of customized sandwiches, will be on the ground floor of the Boulevard Lofts, a new retail-student apartments complex on University Boulevard across from City Hall in downtown Tuscaloosa.

Crews are now readying the 1,600- to 1,700-square-foot store with an eye for a mid-January opening.

Lee Henderson, who has the local franchise for Which Wich, said the growth of retailing and loft apartments in the downtown area has made it attractive for the new restaurant. Henderson said he plans to open a second Which Wich next summer in the area of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street.

Henderson also owns the Smoothie King franchise stores on University Boulevard and in the University of Alabama’s Student Recreation Center. He had a Smoothie King on 15th Street that was lost in the April 27, 2011, tornado.

“After the tornado destroyed that business, it caused me to look at other opportunities,” Henderson said. “I looked at different concepts before deciding on Which Wich.”

He said he and his wife visited about 14 Which Wich stores across the Southeast, spending time talking to customers, employees and store operators and ordering sandwiches from the menu before deciding on buying a franchise.

“I felt this product had a niche that would fit in with this town,” Henderson said.

Which Wich is based in Dallas, Texas, and is one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the South with about 300 restaurants, he said. The University Boulevard store will be its fifth store in Alabama. There are two Which Wich stores in Huntsville and two in Birmingham with additional ones in the planning stages, he said.

Which Wich lets customers customize sandwiches by marking up pre-printed menus printed on sandwich bags. They select a sandwich from one of 10 categories then choose the type of bread, size, cheese, spreads and vegetables. The sandwiches are prepared and delivered in personalized sandwich bags.

Henderson said the new restaurant also will offer a salad bowl and test seasonal soups.

Tony Crook, who helped run the Smoothie King on 15th Street, will be the general manager of both Which Wich stores. The downtown store will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

<p>TUSCALOOSA | Which Wich Superior Sandwiches will open the first of two new sandwich shops in Tuscaloosa next month.</p><p>The new restaurant, which boasts more than 50 varieties of customized sandwiches, will be on the ground floor of the Boulevard Lofts, a new retail-student apartments complex on University Boulevard across from City Hall in downtown Tuscaloosa. </p><p>Crews are now readying the 1,600- to 1,700-square-foot store with an eye for a mid-January opening.</p><p>Lee Henderson, who has the local franchise for Which Wich, said the growth of retailing and loft apartments in the downtown area has made it attractive for the new restaurant. Henderson said he plans to open a second Which Wich next summer in the area of McFarland Boulevard and 15th Street.</p><p>Henderson also owns the Smoothie King franchise stores on University Boulevard and in the University of Alabama's Student Recreation Center. He had a Smoothie King on 15th Street that was lost in the April 27, 2011, tornado.</p><p>“After the tornado destroyed that business, it caused me to look at other opportunities,” Henderson said. “I looked at different concepts before deciding on Which Wich.”</p><p>He said he and his wife visited about 14 Which Wich stores across the Southeast, spending time talking to customers, employees and store operators and ordering sandwiches from the menu before deciding on buying a franchise. </p><p>“I felt this product had a niche that would fit in with this town,” Henderson said. </p><p>Which Wich is based in Dallas, Texas, and is one of the fastest-growing restaurant chains in the South with about 300 restaurants, he said. The University Boulevard store will be its fifth store in Alabama. There are two Which Wich stores in Huntsville and two in Birmingham with additional ones in the planning stages, he said.</p><p>Which Wich lets customers customize sandwiches by marking up pre-printed menus printed on sandwich bags. They select a sandwich from one of 10 categories then choose the type of bread, size, cheese, spreads and vegetables. The sandwiches are prepared and delivered in personalized sandwich bags.</p><p>Henderson said the new restaurant also will offer a salad bowl and test seasonal soups.</p><p>Tony Crook, who helped run the Smoothie King on 15th Street, will be the general manager of both Which Wich stores. The downtown store will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.</p>